The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Pies, cakes raise $1,100 for local Lutz charities

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Picture, if you will, patriotic table settings spread neatly beneath rows of baked pies and cakes in the Lutz Senior Center.

The scent of these treats permeates the building as the contest’s judges and former Lutz Guv’na Suzin Carr bite into the delicious array of desserts.

This pie, baked by Tracy Gaschler, is a 5-pound apple pie from last year’s Centennial celebration in Lutz. She was back again this year, with another 5-pound apple pie. (File Photo)
This pie, baked by Tracy Gaschler, is a 5-pound apple pie from last year’s Centennial celebration in Lutz. She was back again this year, with another 5-pound apple pie.
(File Photo)

That was the scene on the Fourth of July as 44 entries competed in the annual cake and pie contest during the community’s Independence Day celebration.

This year, the auction for the culinary delights raised $1,100 — more than in recent years, said contest coordinator Marilyn Wannamaker.

“I think the contest this year was a success,” Wannamaker said.

Danny Neeley, winner of the men’s only category in the adult division, baked a pineapple upside down cake to honor his father.

Wannamaker didn’t sample any of the sweets, but she had her eye on a couple.

“I would’ve wanted to take a bite out of the chocolate cake or Tracy Gaschler’s apple pie,” Wannamaker said.

She was impressed by the detail of some of the entries. Cate Hancock used white Kit Kats, ribbons and sparklers to create an effect that captured the most patriotic category in the youth division. She also was the Guv’na’s and judge’s favorite.

Wannamaker believes a change this year to create a new category to split younger kids from older kids gave the younger kids a better chance to capture a ribbon.

Wannamaker, who plans to step down from her role as contest coordinator, said she enjoyed this year’s competition.

“I was very honored to have hosted the contest this year,” she said. But Wannamaker hinted that while she may be stepping away for now, it might not be forever.

And the winners are …

Adult Division
Debbie May, best decorated
Wilma Lewis, most patriotic
Shirley Simmons, best tasting
Danny Neeley, men’s only
Tracy Gaschler, best pie tasting
Sharon Brant, Guv’na’s favorite
Wilma Lewis, judge’s favorite

Youth Division
Abigail Brazier, best decorated
Catelyn Payne, best tasting
Cate Hancock, Guv’na’s favorite, judge’s favorite, most patriotic

Children’s Division
Sarah Robison, best decorated, judge’s favorite
Alexander Pramsberger, most patriotic
Lucy Bazin, best tasting

– Ashley Schrader

Published July 16, 2014

See this story in print: Click Here

Simple ways offered to make voting hassle-free

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In August, the 2014 election cycle will begin. And before voters go to the polls to decide who will represent them in government, Pasco County elections supervisor Brian Corley is offering some last-minute reminders.

“Help us do our job better by ensuring that your voter registration is up-to-date,” Corley said in a recent note to voters. “The more accurate our file, the better able we are to serve the voters of Pasco County.”

Voter registration address changes can be done by telephone, online, or by written notification. But anyone failing to update their address prior to election day could create some delays at the polls.

Those who have not voted since the last gubernatorial election in 2010 should check their registration status online at PascoVotes.com, Corley said. Or status also can be checked by calling (800) 851-8754.

Another way to help speed up the voting process is to make good use of a sample ballot.

“Mark your sample ballot and take it with you so you can copy your choices onto your official ballot,” Corley said.

Also, some polling locations have changed, and voters affected by those areas received new registration cards. However, people who haven’t maintained a current address with the elections office may not have received that information, and could end up at the wrong location when it’s time to vote.

Florida is a closed primary state, meaning primaries are usually closed only to members of specific political parties. However, the primary race for Pasco County Commission District 4 between Republicans Mike Wells and Henry Wilson is an open race, meaning anyone — no matter their party affiliation — can vote.

Also, races for county commission and school board might be assigned geographic areas, but everyone in the county is eligible to vote for them, whether they live in those areas or not.

“With plenty of advanced notice and proper preparation, there should be no reason to forgo one of the greatest freedoms afforded to all Americans,” Corley said.

 

County looking for ideas on long-range transportation plan

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The elevated toll road along the State Road 54/56 corridor might be gone as a private project, but it could still be alive and well as something taxpayers would eventually have to fund.

That and other projects are up for discussion when the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization makes a few stops next month around the county to talk about its long-range transportation plan for the next 25 years.

Meetings will take place the first two weeks in August in Land O’ Lakes, Dade City and New Port Richey. All of them begin at 5 p.m.

The first meeting will be Aug. 5 in Room 111 at Rasmussen College, 18600 Fernview St., in Land O’ Lakes. That will be followed the next night, Aug. 6, at Lacoochee Elementary School’s media center at 38815 Cummer Road in Dade City.

After a meeting at the New Port Richey Public Library Aug. 7, the MPO will return to the eastern side of the county with a meeting Aug. 12 at the Historic Pasco County Courthouse, 37918 Meridian Ave., in Dade City.

For more information on the meetings, or the long-range transportation plan itself, visit Mobility2040Pasco.com, or call (727) 847-8140.

Pasco schools to host meetings on DELTA program

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Pasco County Schools is hosting two community meetings to gather input on a proposal for an after-school enrichment program focused on core subjects like science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.

The first meeting is July 21 at 6 p.m. at Hudson Middle School, with the second July 22 at Stewart Middle School. Both meetings start at 6 p.m.

The meetings are designed to talk about DELTA — which stands for determination, education, leadership, talent, achievement — administered by the 21st Century Community Learning Centers. Services will be tuition-free for a limited number of children.

If awarded, the grant will fund DELTA after-school programs beginning in October at Lacoochee and Gulf Highlands elementary schools, as well as Gulf, Hudson and Stewart middle schools.

Hudson MIddle is located at 14540 Cobra Way in Hudson, while Stewart Middle is located at 38505 10th Ave., in Zephyrhills.

In Print: Late Don Porter’s ‘Rebirth of wonder’

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Friends and family, along with community leaders and business owners, paid their respects last weekend to the late Don Porter during a memorial ceremony at the Pasco-Hernando State College campus named for his family.

Don Porter
Don Porter

Porter, who died July 1 at the age of 73, lived in Wesley Chapel since it was virtually empty land far from civilization in the late 1940s. The Porters owned thousands of acres, and when it came time to turn that land into development, everyone in the family was focused more on what would make Pasco County better than anything else.

“In my business, you get to meet a lot of families that have very large landholdings,” state Rep. Will Weatherford said, as reported by B.C. Manion. “It’s not rare for a family to have thousands of acres — there’s a lot of them in Flroida. But I’ve never met a family, I’ve never met a man — until I met Don — that was so keenly more focused on the future of his community than on how much money he would make off of it.”

While the community might know Porter as someone who helped spearhead major growth in the region over the past several years, he was always first and foremost a family man. His daughter, Quinn Miller, remembers how her dad taught her to think for herself. When she wanted to commiserate over a problem or disappointment, Porter would frustrate her by not letting her do it. Instead, she said, he listened, and then asked her questions.

“He had a way of offering perspective by forcing introspection, not (offering) his opinion,” Miller said.

To read more about the life of Don Porter, and the community’s reaction to his passing, check out this week’s print edition of The Laker. Or read the online e-edition for free by clicking here.

It takes a community to build a community park. And the community leaders who have been looking to do just that for the Land O’ Lakes Community Center last week got good news from the Pasco County commissioners after deciding to move forward with a $2.4 million plan to upgrade the property along Land O’ Lakes Boulevard.

“Our park has waited a long time for this facelift,” said Sandy Graves, who helped lead the efforts to get the park renovated, according to a story by reporter Michael Hinman. “Thanks for making that dream become a reality today.”

The county last year had put aside $1.8 million to renovate the park and building there, but bids came in $500,000 higher than what officials had hoped. With no more money available from existing park impact fees, assistant county administrator Heather Grimes suggested officials could borrow from a reserve account instead, paying that money back over two years.

To find out exactly what the county has planned for the community center, pick up your print copy of The Laker today, or read it online by clicking here.

Finally, never think that Walt Bockmiller is old. Sure, he’s 71, but for him, age is just a number.

That’s why he works so hard to organize sporting activity designed specifically for senior citizens. That gives them time for softball, golf, tennis, bowling, and even volleyball.

“It’s an opportunity for them to get out and start doing something rather than just being home shopping or watching TV,” Bockmiller told reporter Michael Murillo. “It gives them an opportunity to meet people in a different kind of environment.”

Bockmiller, who lives in Land O’ Lakes, started a group called Senior Sports in 2011, and it’s been going strong ever since. It now has more than 150 people taking part, with tennis quickly becoming the most popular sport.

“There are a lot of friends that come out of this stuff,” he said. “Some of my friends in tennis and golf, especially tennis, are friends for life.”

To read more about Senior Sports and fun things older residents can do, check out this week’s print edition of The Laker/Lutz News. Or you can read more about Bockmiller’s program in our free online e-edition, which you can see right now by clicking here.

All of these stories and more can be found in this week’s The Laker/Lutz News, available in newsstands throughout east and central Pasco County as well as northern Hillsborough County. Find out what has your community talking this week by getting your local news straight from the only source you need.

If The Laker/Lutz News is not coming to your door, call us to see where you can get your copy at (813) 909-2800, or read our free e-edition by clicking here.

Florida looking for influential women in agriculture

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The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is looking for nominations for its 2014 Woman of the Year in Agriculture award.

Since 1985, this award has recognized 30 women who have made a significant contribution to Florida agriculture, according to a release. Recipients of the award have come from all parts of the industry, including cattle, vegetables, timber, citrus, row crops, equine, horticulture, tropical fruits, sugar cane, dairy, agricultural journalism, and agricultural education and outreach.

Last year’s award went to Lynetta Usher Griner, who was recognized for her contributions to forestry, environmental stewardship and wildlife conservation. She was the first woman elected president of the Florida Forestry Association.

Nominees must be at least 25 and be active in the agriculture industry. They also need to have been a state resident without a break since 2004.

A possible candidate is one who serves her community in some professional or civic capacity, and has made some unique and outstanding contribution to the agriculture industry.

The deadline to submit for the award is Aug. 15, with the winner announced at next year’s Florida State Fair in Tampa.

For more information, or to download a nomination application, visit tinyurl.com/AgWoman2014.

Tech council, USF provides $50k scholarship to SmartStart

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In what officials are calling a surprise announcement, Florida High Tech Corridor Council president Randy Berridge announced his organization is offering a $50,000 sponsorship for the SmartStart Business Incubator program.

The announcement was made Monday at the opening of the second incubator location in New Port Richey, joining the existing one in Dade City.

The council and the University of South Florida back “numerous initiatives that support small and growing companies, and the SmartStart program is a terrific program that is already beginning to show successful results,” Berridge said, in a release. “We are glad to help foster the entrepreneurial activity in Pasco County.”

This is the group’s second sponsorship of Pasco Economic Development Council’s SmartStart Program with USF. Last year, both groups announced it would provide a $50,000 sponsorship during the opening of the Dade City business incubator.

Pasco EDC’s goal is to work with new entrepreneurs and scalable start-up companies in the incubators in Pasco County, and help them build their businesses from the ground up, officials said. Only 20 percent of new businesses are still in operation after the first five years, according to the Small Business Administration. On the other hand, the U.S. Economic Development Administration funded a study that concluded 87 percent of all businesses graduating from an incubator remain in business after five years.

The SmartStart program has helped create 42 jobs, and has projected to create a total of 65 jobs over the next two years, officials said.

For information, visit SmartStartPasco.com, or email Krista Covey at .

Gas prices locally are falling

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Not even the Fourth of July weekend was enough to kick up oil prices, as gasoline costs are falling to what one organization is calling a three-month low.

The price of oil dropped for the third consecutive week, allowing the national average for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline to fall for the 16th straight day, according to a new report from AAA. Since last week, the average price in the nation fell 4 cents to $3.62, the lowest price since April.

“Oil pieces hit a free-fall at the end of last week,” AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins said, in a release. “As a result, motorists in the Southeast could see prices at the pump fall 10 to 20 cents in the next two weeks.

Part of the relief came from increased U.S. stockpiles of oil, as well as easing risks in Iraq and Libya, Jenkins said. A barrel of oil was priced at a little more than $100 on Friday, down more than 3 percent from the week before.

The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in Florida is 3 cents cheaper than last week, and the lowest since March 25. Gas in Florida on Sunday was $3.56 compared to the national average of $3.62. It’s still slightly above what prices were this time a year ago, at $3.52.

 

Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel looks west for new CEO

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Denyse Bales-Chubb is the new president and chief executive for Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, beginning Aug. 1.

She replaces Brian Adams, who filled a similar position at Florida Hospital Tampa earlier this year.

Denyse Bales-Chubbs
Denyse Bales-Chubb

“Denyse is committed to our mission and growing the legacy of Seventh-day Adventist health care,” said Don Jernigan, president and chief executive of Adventist Health System, in a release. “I’m pleased to welcome her to our system, and look forward to seeing her contributions to both Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel and Adventist Health System.”

Bales-Chubb brings more than 25 years of health care experience, most recently serving as vice president and administrator of Adventist Medical Center Selma and Adventist Medical Center Reedley, both located in Southern California. She has worked for other organizations as well, including United WestLabs, Valley Baptist Health Plan, Tenet Health System, Columbia Healthcare, Lutheran Health Systems, and Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center.

“Denyse’s proven success in enhancing the patient experience is going to be a tremendous asset to this region,” said Michael Schultz, president and chief executive of West Florida Region of Adventist Health System, in a release. “She puts quality and patient safety first, approaches physicians as true business partners, and believes in transparent and direct communication. This is the formula we need for Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel’s next phase of growth.

Bales-Chubb holds a master’s degree in health care administration from Wichita State University in Kansas, and a bachelor’s degree in medical technology and biology from Fort Hays State University in Missouri.

“When I visited Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, I was so impressed with the energy and engagement of the staff and physicians,” Bales-Chubb said in a release. “I am excited to join the team and build on the incredible success the hospital has already had because I believe the hospital’s opportunities are endless.”

Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel is an 83-bed facility located on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard in central Pasco County. It opened in 2012 on land once owned by the Porter family.

Commissioners to host community meetings

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Looking to have a voice when it comes to the upcoming county budget, or other issues affecting where you live, work and play?

Pasco County commissioners are hosting a series of community meetings to talk about all of that and the future direction of the county.

Dade City will be the first stop on July 28 beginning at 6:30 p.m., at the Historic Pasco County Courthouse, 37918 Meridian Ave., in Dade City. This session will be televised on Pasco County Government Television on Bright House Networks channel 622, and on Verizon FiOS cable channel 42.

A second meeting will take place July 31 beginning at 6:30 p.m., at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. Two others will take place July 29 in New Port Richey.

Commissioners will use recent non-scientific surveys as a guide for discussion on what residents might be asking for. The National Citizen Survey randomly selected various county residents, while a second survey tackled questions about various county programs and services. It also provided the opportunity for residents to give their opinion of the biggest issues facing the county over the next few years.

Commissioners say they will use the opinions and ideas shared during these meetings, as well as the surveys, to help assist them in upcoming budget decisions.